Construction Accidents

Accidents can occur anywhere, but when you're working on a construction site you have the reasonable expectation that the site will be safe to work on. If you've been hurt on a construction site due to unsafe conditions or the negligence of another, you have legal rights to fair compensation. The construction accident lawyers at the Law Offices of James S. Sorrels understand the laws in the construction industry and will represent you. Call (425) 778-8558 now.

You have the right to fair compensation for your injuries.

More about Construction Accidents

Construction workers understand that construction work involves its share of construction accidents and construction injuries. However, construction workers also rightfully expect that their job sites will be safe, that the companies involved with their job sites will follow the applicable statutes, regulations, rules and plans, that proper training occurs, and that their equipment is safe for use. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and the construction industry averages approximately 1,000 workplace fatalities each year, and in 2010, approximately 4 out of 100 construction workers suffer a work-related illness or injury.

What are common causes of injuries on construction sites?

As reported by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (http://goo.gl/o9xVk), the so-called “big four” causes of injuries and deaths to construction workers are:

Falls

Electrical Incidents

Struck-By

Trenching and Evacuation

Falls: Falls are among the most common causes of serious injuries and deaths at construction sites. Construction workers fall due to unprotected sides, wall openings and floor holes, because of poor scaffolding construction, because of unguarded protruding steel rebar, and, because of misuse of portable ladders. These kinds of injuries are preventable, and should not occur at the rate that they occur. Fall injuries can be prevented in part through proper use of floorcovers, toeboards, and guardrails, and by proper scaffolding construction. Steel bars should be capped or otherwise protected to avoid impalements due to falls.

Electrical Incidents: Electrical incidents occur due to contact with power lines, lack of ground-fault protection, path to ground missing or discontinuous, when equipment is not used in manner prescribed, and from the improper use of extension and flexible cords. Generally, OSHA requires that employees not work near any part of an electrical power circuit unless protected. Injuries due to electrical incidents range from a tingling sensation, to cardiac arrest, burns, damage to internal organs, and death.

Struck-By: Struck-By accidents occur when heavy equipment contacts construction workers. These incidents commonly involve cranes and trucks hitting a worker, and these kinds of incidents can result in serious injuries.

Trenching and Excavation: Trenching and excavation injuries occur due to a lack of a protective system, a failure to inspect excavations and protective systems, and, because of unsafe access or egress. Other hazards include the risk of oxygen depletion in restricted spaces, toxic fumes, and water accumulation.

How can James Sorrels help?

If you have been involved in a construction accident, you should know that the at-fault parties’ insurance companies will hire competent insurance defense attorneys to defend your case, and that these insurance companies commonly spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to avoid paying you fair compensation. This means that to get the best possible result, and to protect your rights and the rights of your family, you require an experienced construction accident attorney. You require the experience and skill of James Sorrels. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation.